Basics of verb-preposition collocations. 45 questions on dependent prepositions with common verbs: look, think, talk, agree, worry, and wait.
What this test covers
- Look, listen, and talk + preposition
- Agree, disagree, and think + preposition
- Worry, care, and wait + preposition
Answer the 45 questions below. Each answer is checked straight away, with an explanation. Press Submit at the end to get your score and save it to your dashboard. Answers are not kept if you leave before submitting.
All 45 questions with answers
Pick an answer for each question to see if you are right, with the explanation. Submit when you are done; you can submit before answering them all.
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Q1Please look ___ the whiteboard while I explain the grammar rule.
Answer: A. at
Use look at when you direct your eyes toward something specific. We don't say look for here because the student isn't searching for the board; they already know where it is.
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Q2I am listening ___ my favourite podcast on the train.
Answer: D. to
The verb listen takes the preposition to when directing your attention to a specific source. For example: 'I listen to music' or 'Listen to the teacher.' Prepositions like on or at are not used with listen in this context.
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Q3We need to talk ___ the plans for our upcoming holiday.
Answer: D. about
We use talk about when we are discussing a specific topic or subject. We use talk to for the person we are speaking with.
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Q4I am thinking ___ buying a new coffee machine for the kitchen.
Answer: D. about
Use think about when you are considering an idea, a plan, or a possibility in your mind.
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Q5Do you agree ___ me that this movie is very boring?
Answer: A. with
When you share the same opinion as another person, you agree with them.
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Q6My parents always worry ___ me when I travel alone.
Answer: B. about
We use worry about when we feel anxious or nervous about someone or something. We don't use worry for in this way.
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Q7She really cares ___ the environment and recycles everything.
Answer: D. about
If something is important to you or you feel strongly about it, you care about it.
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Q8I have been waiting ___ the bus for twenty minutes.
Answer: A. for
We use wait for when we stay in a place until someone or something arrives. You cannot say wait to the bus.
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Q9Whether we go to the beach depends ___ the weather.
Answer: B. on
We always use depend on. It means that one thing is decided or changed by another thing.
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Q10I am looking ___ my glasses; have you seen them?
Answer: A. for
Use look for when you are searching for something that is lost or missing. Look at means your eyes are already on the object.
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Q11Can you look ___ my cat while I am on holiday?
Answer: B. after
Look after means to take care of someone or something, like a pet, a baby, or a house.
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Q12I look forward ___ you at the conference next week.
Answer: D. to meeting
After the phrase 'look forward to', we always use a word ending in '-ing'. So, 'to meeting' is the correct choice. Saying 'look forward to meet' is a common mistake.
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Q13The manager is looking ___ the customer complaint right now.
Answer: A. into
To look into something means to investigate it or try to find out the facts about a problem. 'Look for' means to search for something missing. 'Look after' means to take care of something. 'Look on' does not form a standard phrasal verb with this meaning.
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Q14If you don't know the word, please look it ___ in your dictionary.
Answer: C. up
We use look up when we search for information in a reference source like a dictionary, a map, or the internet.
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Q15I need to talk ___ the manager about my work schedule.
Answer: A. to
Use talk to followed by the person you are speaking with. Use about for the topic of the conversation.
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Q16I can't think ___ his name right now, but I know him.
Answer: D. of
Use think of when you are trying to remember or recall a specific piece of information, like a name.
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Q17That is a difficult decision; you should think it ___ before choosing.
Answer: D. over
To think over something means to consider a decision very carefully before making a final choice.
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Q18We finally agreed ___ the price of the car yesterday.
Answer: C. on
We use agree on when two or more people reach a decision together about a specific thing, like a price or a date.
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Q19She agreed ___ help me finish the project on time.
Answer: A. to
We use agree to followed by a verb (like help) when someone says "yes" to doing an action.
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Q20The nurse cares ___ the patients in the hospital wing.
Answer: D. for
Care for often means to look after someone who is sick or needs help, usually as a job.
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Q21Find the correct version of: "I listen at the radio every morning."
Answer: D. I listen to the radio every morning.
When listening to a media source like a radio, listen to is the correct collocation. Phrases like listen at or listen on do not collocate with media nouns and are incorrect in this context.
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Q22Find the correct version of: "She looks about her sister's baby while she works."
Answer: B. She looks after her sister's baby while she works.
To take care of a person, we use look after. Look at only means using your eyes to see them, and look about is incorrect.
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Q23Find the correct version of: "They are waiting the bus at the stop."
Answer: A. They are waiting for the bus at the stop.
In English, you must say waiting for something. You cannot leave out the word for.
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Q24Find the correct version of: "It depends at the traffic whether we arrive on time."
Answer: B. It depends on the traffic whether we arrive on time.
The phrase is always depends on. Other prepositions like at, to, or about are incorrect here.
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Q25Find the correct version of: "I am worried for my health lately."
Answer: C. I am worried about my health lately.
When you feel anxiety, you are worried about something. Worried for is much less common and usually incorrect in this context.
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Q26Find the correct version of: "We agreed to meeting at noon."
Answer: D. We agreed on meeting at noon.
We use agree on for a shared decision. Note that after on, we use the "-ing" form: on meeting.
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Q27Find the correct version of: "I am looking forward to see you soon."
Answer: B. I am looking forward to seeing you soon.
The fixed phrase is looking forward to plus an "-ing" word. So, to seeing is correct.
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Q28Find the correct version of: "I need to think it about before I decide."
Answer: D. I need to think it over before I decide.
To consider a decision carefully, the correct phrasal verb is think it over. We do not say think it about.
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Q29Find the correct version of: "He talks at his friends about the game."
Answer: A. He talks to his friends about the game.
When you have a conversation with someone, you talk to them. Talks at is not the normal way to describe a conversation.
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Q30Find the correct version of: "She cares to her job very much."
Answer: B. She cares about her job very much.
If you feel your job is important, you care about it. Cares to is incorrect.
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Q31Find the correct version of: 'I am worried for the exam results.'
Answer: A. I am worried about the exam results.
Always use about with worried to describe what is making you feel nervous.
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Q32Find the correct version of: 'Please listen at me carefully.'
Answer: A. Please listen to me carefully.
The verb listen must be followed by to when there is an object like me, music, or the radio.
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Q33He is looking ___ his keys under the table.
Answer: B. for
Use look for because he is searching for something he has lost.
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Q34Find the correct version of: 'I agreed for the plan for the trip.'
Answer: D. I agreed on the plan for the trip.
When several people decide together that a plan is good, they agree on it. Agreed for is incorrect.
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Q35Find the correct version of: 'They talked about to move to a new house.'
Answer: A. They talked about moving to a new house.
After the phrase talked about, we use an "-ing" word like moving. We don't use to move.
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Q36Find the correct version of: 'I am looking forward to meet you again.'
Answer: D. I am looking forward to meeting you again.
The expression is looking forward to + "-ing". Therefore, to meeting is the only correct form.
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Q37Can you look this word ___ in the dictionary?
Answer: B. up
To search for a specific word or piece of information in a book or online, we use look up.
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Q38I can't think ___ his name right now.
Answer: A. of
Use think of when you are trying to remember or bring an idea into your mind.
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Q39Find the correct version of: 'We depend to our teacher for help.'
Answer: B. We depend on our teacher for help.
We always say depend on. It shows that you need someone's help or support.
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Q40Find the correct version of: 'The police are looking to the crime.'
Answer: B. The police are looking into the crime.
When the police investigate to find out the truth about a situation, they look into it.
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Q41I want to talk ___ the teacher about my grades.
Answer: D. to
Use talk to followed by the person you are communicating with.
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Q42She is thinking ___ her next holiday.
Answer: D. about
When you have a topic or a plan in your mind, you are thinking about it.
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Q43I agree ___ you; it is cold outside.
Answer: C. with
We use agree with when we have the same opinion as another person.
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Q44He is looking ___ a new job because he is bored.
Answer: D. for
When you search for something you want (like a job or an apartment), you look for it.
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Q45Please wait ___ me outside the café.
Answer: A. for
We always use wait for someone. For example: "Wait for me!"
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